Box and cover



y 21, 1940. J. WERTZHEISER- 2,201,751

BOX AND COVER Filed Ju1y'24, 1937 77 f6 26 i 1; av 1% f I: M INVMOR.

' BY 9 I! 6i Z5 ATTORNEY? Patented May 21, 1940 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE BOX AND COVER Application July 24, 1937, Serial N0. 155,355

10 Claims.

This invention relates to a housing orbox com prising a body portion, a cover portion and means to secure the cover to the body portion.

One object is to provide an improved housing for switches, convenience outlets and other electrical circuit connection means.

Another object is to secure a high degree of simplicity and economy in. manufacturing, assembling and using.

Other objects will be apparent from the following description and drawing. Although specific structure is described and shown this is intended to illustrate the invention and there will be no limitations except as ultimately set forth in the definition of the invention in the claims, properly interpreted.

Fig. 1 is a plan view.

Fig. 2 is an end View.

Fig. 3 is a side view with parts broken away and shown in section substantially on the line 33 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a plan view of the flange.

Fig. 5 is a side View of the cover and flange, turned upside down from the position normally 25 occupied to show how the flange is secured to the cover.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the flange in an intermediate position.

Fig. '7 is an enlarged diagrammatic View showing how certain parts of the cover are beveled to permit attachment of the flange to the cover.

Fig. 8 is a plan view of the flange and cover in the position shown in Fig. 5.

The combination of the invention includes a 5 body portion, a flange or ring-like fastening element and a cover portion. These elements will be described in that order.

The housing may be made of plastic molded material. It has a body portion having a bottom 40 portion l and side walls 3. These terminate in upper edges 5 lying in a horizontal plane when the housing is in an upright position. These upper edges support a peripheral metallic flange l which has side parts and ends. At each end of 45 the flange there are depending bifurcated lugs 9. Each end wall of the housing has a panel ID which may be raised in relief thereon by the molding method employed to manufacture the housing. This panel has flared recesses l 2 therein. The branches of the bifurcated lugs are inserted into the said flared recesses and then said lugs are in turn flared to engage the flared contours of said recesses. In this manner the flange may be efficien-tly secured to the body portion.

The flange or ring-like fastening element is also provided with tongue portions MA and 1413 which may extend toward each other as shown to engage recesses in the cover said tongue members terminating a predetermined distance apart as shown in Fig. 4.

The cover has an upper portion I6 having surfaces l8 lying in a plane. This plane is of course horizontal when the box and cover is in an upright position. These surfaces [8 rest upon and engage the upper surfaces of the flange I, as shown in Figs. 3, 5 and 8, for example it being borne in mind that Figs. 5 to 8 show the cover and flange in a position upside down from that normally occupied.

The cover also has a lower portion which may be joined integrally with and raised in relief thereon. This lower portion 20 has a surface 22 lying in a second plane parallel to and beneath the plane containing the surfaces I8.

The lower portion 20 has edges at the points 24A and 24B and corners 26 are formed at the junction of the upper portion I B and the lower portion 20, as shown most clearly in Fig. 7. The respective edges 24 and corners 26 lie substantially in a plane which intersects the plane containing the surfaces l8 at an angle determined by'the thickness of said lower portion 20, as clearly shown in Figs. 6 and 7.

The maximum dimension of the lower portion 20 between the edges 24, i. e., the distance between the points RI and R2 in Fig. 7 is greater than the distance between the tongues MA and MB of the flange.

Recessed portions 30 are formed in the lower portion 20 of the cover which recessed portions 20 receive and engage the tongues MA and MB. In assembling the combination of the invention the cover and flange are turned upside down as shown in Figs. 5 to 8 inclusive and the flange is slipped over the lower portion 20. Means are provided to permit this operation. This could be done by making the vertical depth of the recessed portions 39, i. e., the distance between R3 and PA in Fig. '7, so great that the tongue MA of the flange could be inserted into its corresponding recess and the flange turned through an angle suflicient to clear the beveled edge 24B even if the surfaces 32 were not beveled as shown. This however would require the vertical depth of the recesses 30 to be substantially greater than the thickness of the flange and would result in some looseness of engagement of the tongues MA and 143 with the said recesses 30. To prevent this looseness, the surfaces 32 which are continuations of the surfaces l8 are beveled and the angle between these beveled surfaces 32 and the plane containing the surfaces I8 is at least substantially equal to the angle subtended between the plane containing the surfaces 18 and the plane containing the respective edges 24 and corners 26.

By means of this structure the tongue MA can be inserted in a recess 30 and turning of the flange only through said small angle suflices to enable the tongue MB to clear the opposite edge 24B. Thereby the distance P.3-P.4 (see Fig. '7) may be only slightly greater than the thickness of the flange and a tight fit is ensured.

After the tongue MB clears the edge 243 the tongue MB is inserted in its corresponding recess 30 by moving the flange to the left (see Fig. 7) to center the flange. in relation to the cover.

The cover and flange are then turned upside down to restore them to the position shown in Figs. 1, 2 and 3, the lugs 9 are inserted into the flared recesses 12, the branches of the lugs are flared to engage the surfaces of the flared recesses l2 and the cover and flange thus securely joined to the body of the housing.

The beveled edges 24A and 24B assist in enabling the tongues MA and MB to clear these edges and therefore constitute means to facilitate the engagement of the flange with the cover with the tongue portions of the cover inserted into the recesses 30.

The housing is intended primarily but not exclusively to contain electrical circuit connection means. It may have holes 36 in the cover to permit the insertion of plug terminals. Instead of such holes, the handle of a switch (operating circuit connection terminals Within the housing) might protrude through a space in the cover. Other applications will occur to those skilled in the various arts where such a housing may find application. All uses to which the invention may be put are of course included therein.

A raised portion 38 may be provided to engage a superimposed panel.

I claim:

l.'A housing adapted to contain circuit connection means comprising a body portion having side and end walls, said end walls being provided exteriorly thereof with flared slots therein; a peripheral flange supported by and engaging the upper edges of said walls; a cover supported by said flange; means securing the flange to the body portion comprising bifurcated lugs extending downwardly from said flange, the branches of said bifurcated lugs being flared and engaging the complementary walls of said flared slots, and means securing the cover to the flange.

2. A housing having an opening to be closed and havinga plurality of side walls whose upper edges form a border surrounding said opening, a cover to close said opening, said cover having a top and bottom, means adapted to lie between a portion of the bottom of said cover and said housing to secure said cover to said housing constituting an open ring-like fastening element resting on said border, a portion of said cover projecting inwardly of the opening in said ringlike member and being capable of longitudinal sliding motion therewith so as to permit the insertion of said cover through said ring-like element and its removal when said ring-like element is slid to one extremity of its motion, there being means on one of said elements to wit the ring or the cover for holding the two said elements in assembled relation when the ring-like element is centrally located, said housing and cover being so constructed and proportioned as to locate and maintain said cover centrally of said ring-like element when the cover and the ring-like element are placed in position on the housing, and means to secure said ring-like element and said cover to the housing.

3. A housing having an opening to be closed and having a plurality of side walls whose upper edges form a border surrounding said opening, a cover to close said opening, said cover having a top and bottom, means adapted to lie between a portion of the bottom of said cover and said housing to secure said cover to said housing constituting an open ring-like fastening element resting on said border, a portion of said cover projecting inwardly of the opening in said ringlike member and being capable of longitudinal sliding motion therewith so as to permit the insertion of said cover through said ring-like element and its removal when said ring-like element is slid to one extremity of its motion, there being means on one of said elements to wit the ring or the cover for holding the two said elements in assembled relation when the ring-like element is centrally located, said housing and cover being so constructed and proportioned as to locate and maintain said cover centrally of said ring-like element when the cover and the ring-like element are placed in position on the housing, and means on said ring-like element for exterior engagement with said housing to secure said element and the cover to the housing.

4. A housing having an opening to be closed and having a plurality of side walls whose upper edges form a border surrounding said opening, a cover to close said opening, said cover having a top and bottom, means adapted to lie between a portion of the bottom of said cover and said housing to secure said cover to said housing constituting an open ring-like fastening element resting on said border, a portion of said cover projecting inwardly of the opening in said ringlike member and being capable of longitudinal sliding motion therewith so as to permit the insertion of said cover through said ring-like element and its removal when said ring-like element is slid to one extremity of its motion, there being means on one of said elements to wit the ring or the cover for holding the two said elements in assembled relation when the ring-like element is centrally located, said housing and cover being so constructed and proportioned as to locate and maintain said cover centrally of said ring-like element when the cover and the ring-like element are placed in position on the housing, and means on said ring-like element for exterior engagement with said housing to secure said element and the cover to the housing comprising flared bifurcated lugs on said ring-like element, said housing having flared slots in the exterior of two opposite side walls to receive said lugs.

5. A housing having an opening to be closed and having a plurality of side walls whose upper edges form a border surrounding said opening, a cover to close said opening, said cover having a top and bottom, means adapted to lie between a portion of said cover and said housing to secure said cover to said housing constituting an open ring-like fastening element resting on said border, a portion of said cover projecting inwardly of the opening in said ring-like member and being capable of longitudinal sliding motion therewith so as to permit the insertion of said cover through said ring-like element and its withdrawal, means integral with said ring-like element engaging with portions of said cover for holding the two said elements in assembled relation when the ring-like element is centrally located, said housing and cover being S0. constructed and proportioned as to locate and maintain said cover centrally of said ring-like element when the cover and the ring-like element are placed in position on the housing, and means to secure said ring-like element and said cover to the housing.

6. A housing having an opening to be closed and having a plurality of side walls whose upper edges form a border surrounding said opening, a cover to close said opening, said cover having a top and bottom, means adapted to lie between a portion of the bottom of said cover and said housing to secure said cover to said housing constituting an open ring-like fastening element resting on said border, a portion of said cover projecting inwardly of the opening in said ring-like member and being capable of longitudinal sliding motion therewith so as to permit the insertion of said cover through said ring-like element and its removal when said ring-like element is slid to one extremity of its motion, the bottom of said cover being tapered so that said cover may be tilted angularly in relation to said ring-like element to permit insertion or removal of said cover, there being means on one of said elements to wit the ring or the cover for holding the two said elements in assembled relation when the ring-like element is centrally located, said housing and cover being so constructed and proportioned as to locate and maintain said cover centrally of said ring-like element when the cover and the ring-like element are placed in position on the housing, and means to secure said ring-like element and said cover to the housing.

'7. A housing having an opening to be closed and having a plurality of side walls whose upper edges form a border surrounding said opening, a cover to close said opening, said cover having a top and bottom, means adapted to lie between a portion of the bottom of said cover and said housing to secure said cover to said housing constituting an open ring-like fastening element resting on said border, a portion of said cover projecting inwardly of the opening in said ring-like member and being capable of longitudinal sliding motion therewith so as to permit the insertion of said cover through said ring-like element and its removal when said ring-like element is slid to one extremity of its motion, the ring-like element and the cover being constructed so that said cover may be tilted angularly in relation to said ring-like element to permit insertion or removal of said cover, there being means on one of said elements to wit the ring or the cover for holding the two said elements in assembled relation when the ringlike element is centrally located, said housing and cover being so constructed and proportioned as to locate and maintain said cover centrally of said ring-like element when the cover and the ring-like element are placed in position on the housing, and means to secure said ring-like element and said cover to the housing.

8. A housing having an opening to be closed and having a plurality of side walls whose upper edges form a border surrounding said opening, a cover to close said opening, said cover having a top and bottom, means adapted to lie between a portion of the bottom of said cover and said housing to secure said cover to said housing constituting an open ring-like fastening element resting on said border, a portion of said cover projecting inwardly or" the opening in said ring-like member and being capable of longitudinal sliding motion therewith so as to permit the insertion of said cover through said ring-like element and its removal when said ring-like element is slid to one extremity of its motion, the ring-like element and the cover being constructed so that said cover may be tilted angularly in relation to said ringlike element to permit insertion or removal of said cover, there being means on one of said elements to wit the ring or the cover for holding the two said elements in assembled relation when the ring-like element is centrally located, said housing and cover being so constructed and proportioned as to locate and maintain said cover centrally of said ring-like element when the cover and the ring-like element are placed in position on the housing, and means on said ring-like element for exterior engagement with said housing to secure said element and the cover to the housing.

9. A housing comprising a hollow body portion having an opening at one side, a cover for said opening, a ring-like fastening element surrounding said opening lying between the cover and the housing and resting on said housing to secure said cover to said housing, said cover having a lower portion extending inwardly of said ringlike element and being capable of longitudinal sliding motion with said ring-like element, said sliding motion permitting said cover to be inserted in and removed from said ring-like element when said element is slid to the extremity of its motion, means integral with said ring-like element to engage portions of said cover to prevent its removal from said ring-like element when the cover is located centrally of said ring-like element, said housing and cover being so constructed and proportioned as to locate and maintain said cover centrally of said ring-like member when the cover and the ring-like element are placed in position on the housing, and means to secure said ringlike element and said cover to said housing.

10. A housing comprising a hollow body portion having an opening at one side, a cover for said opening, a ring-like fastening element surrounding said opening lying between the cover and the housing and resting on said housing to secure said cover to said housing, said cover having a lower portion extending inwardly of said ring-like element and being capable of longitudinal sliding motion with said ring-like element, said sliding motion permitting said cover to be inserted in and removed from said ring-like element when said element is slid to the extremity of its motion, means integral with said ring-like element to engage portions of said cover to prevent its removal from said ring-like element when the cover is located centrally of said ring-like element, said housing and cover being so constructed and proportioned as to locate and maintain said cover centrally of said ring-like member when the cover and the ring-like element are placed in position on the housing, and means on said ring-like element to engage the exterior of said housing to secure said ring-like element and said cover to said housing.

JOSEPH WERTZHEISER. 

